Rahul Dravid : The Wall

[VinodKumar's]

Former
India coach Greg Chappell has ignited a fresh controversy in his newly-released
book on Rahul Dravid, saying had the retired batting great received the same
support that he gave other captains, he would have been the country's most
successful skipper. Chappell wrote that despite Dravid
guiding the Indian team to a number of victories, his success was not enjoyed
by some of the members of the side.
"Sadly
the success of the team was not universally enjoyed within the team. Some
individuals felt threatened by the new world order and appeared to work against
Rahul," Chappell has written in his book Rahul Dravid -Timeless Steel,
which was launched in Mumbai on Wednesday.
"Had
he been given the same wholehearted support in the role that he had given
others, I think the recent history of Indian cricket may have been very
different and he could have gone on to become the most successful Indian
captain ever," he added.
The
former Australian skipper recalled how Dravid led India to nine ODI wins in a
row by inserting the opposition after winning the toss, regardless of the
conditions, and then went on to pilot the team to a world record of 17
consecutive wins batting second.
"To
learn how to get better at chasing a target, Rahul kept asking the opposition
to bat first, no matter the conditions. Under his leadership, India won nine
ODIs in a row against Pakistan and England, and went on to complete a world
record of 17 consecutive wins batting second."
Stating
that the same approach had helped India win Test matches abroad as well,
Chappell wrote, "A similar approach to Test cricket brought about India's
first overseas victory in the West Indies for 35 years and a first-ever Test
victory in South Africa, which could have been turned into a series win if the
team had batted better in the second innings in the final Test in Cape
Town."
Chappell's
reference is to India's Test series victory (1-0 in the four-match series) in
the Caribbean in 2006 followed by its maiden win in Johannesburg's opening Test
of the 2006-07 series, before Dravid's team lost the next two games and the
rubber to the Proteas.

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